Canadian hockey faces a profound crisis as a sexual assault scandal involving members of the 2018 world junior team continues to unfold. Four players currently with NHL rosters—Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers, Michael McLeod and Cal Foote of the New Jersey Devils, and Dillon Dube of the Calgary Flames—have found themselves without new contracts amid ongoing investigations and high-profile allegations.
Earlier this year, charges were brought against five players connected to the allegations, leading to significant repercussions within the sport. These developments followed a 2022 lawsuit by a woman alleging sexual assault by eight members of Canada's 2018 world junior team after a fundraising gala in London, Ontario.
The Incident
The alleged assault took place on June 19, 2018, at the Delta Hotel London Armouries. The woman, then 20 years old, claimed that a player, referred to as "John Doe #1," led her to a hotel room where seven other men were invited to perform undisclosed sexual acts. The woman accused the men of intimidating her and preventing her from leaving. They also directed her to take a shower and coerced her to state on video that she was sober.
London Police were alerted to the incident later that day by a relative of the victim, initiating an investigation that was closed in 2019 without charges. However, the lawsuit filed in 2022 prompted the case to be reopened, eventually leading to charges against five team members.
“For all the charges we have reasonable grounds for,” said Detective Sgt. Katherine Dann of the London Police regarding the ongoing investigation.
Impact on Players
The ramifications for the players involved have been immediate and severe. Alex Formenton, who once played in the NHL and is now with the Swiss club HC Ambri-Piotta, has also been charged with sexual assault. The four NHL players—Hart, McLeod, Foote, and Dube—were on paid leave from their teams until the end of the month when they were released into free agency. Their professional futures remain uncertain as legal proceedings continue.
Organizational Response
The revelations have cast a shadow over Hockey Canada, which had settled the initial lawsuit and consequently faced a wave of scrutiny. It was discovered that the organization maintained two secret funds to resolve claims of sexual assault and abuse. This disclosure has intensified calls for organizational introspection and substantial reform within the sport’s governing bodies.
A Call for Reform
The broader implications of this scandal have reverberated throughout Canadian hockey, spotlighting the urgent need for creating safer environments and bolstering accountability. The reputations of both the individual players and the institutions they represent have been severely tarnished, urging a shift towards greater transparency and ethical governance.
As investigations from various quarters continue, the focus will inevitably remain on ensuring that justice is served and that systemic changes are implemented to prevent such incidents in the future. The unfolding scandal serves as a stark reminder of the profound responsibilities that come with representing a sport loved by millions. The hockey community now stands at a crossroads, with an imperative to address and rectify these egregious lapses.